Twenty percent of the waste in the UK is sent directly to recycling centres. While this may seem like a sizable portion, it is well below the European average. In fact, many nations recycle about half of their waste. To be fair, the UK has made a concerted effort in recent years and the number of recycling centres has increased.
Unfortunately, most of the waste still ends up in mountainous landfills or is simply incinerated. Both options are significantly worse for the environment than recycling. No, recycling is not a pristine process as some would have you believe. The trucks and the recycling centres create pollution. Still, it is a much cleaner and more efficient option than the others. Why isn't it more popular then?
That's easy, money. Yes, recycling bottles and cans is pricier than simply throwing them in a landfill or incinerating them, at least for now. After all, as the UK continues to run out of places to put its rubbish, it will have to buy up expensive properties and store it there. In time, recycling and waste disposal Leicester will be more cost effective than putting rubbish in a pile or burning it.
But the most practical reason that people should recycle is that they will be fined if they do not. That's right, the old carrot and stick. But in this instance we actually agree with it. Recycling is better for the environment and it is better for the UK. Landfills and burning refuse is nothing more than a cheap, temporary solution to the problem.
In the not too distant future, trucks and hauling services will be cheaper and recycling centres will use less energy and be more cost effective. At that point it is inevitable that all waste will be recycled.
